As Far as Things Would Go

Xun Yuan woke up the next day in her house in Repulse Bay.

After dinner with Zuo Tingyue the night before, they had each gone home, neither thinking to tell the other their whereabouts in an unspoken understanding.

After getting up, Xun Yuan opened her computer, dealt with the backlog of emails in her inbox, and remotely oversaw progress abroad.

Once she finished, Xun Yuan rolled her stiff neck and glanced at the time.

Eleven in the morning.

Yun Tang called and asked whether she wanted to have lunch together.

"Sure, but I need to pick someone up at the airport at two this afternoon," Xun Yuan said.

"No problem. I sent the address to your phone. Hurry over."

"Remember to drive. I didn't bring my car."

Xun Yuan answered, "Okay," hung up, changed, and headed out.

Xun Yuan spotted Yun Tang soon after entering. She was sitting by the window in a long beige dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, making her particularly easy to spot.

"You're here."

"Order something. I've ordered a few dishes already. The rest were waiting for you."

Xun Yuan set down her clutch, took the menu Yun Tang handed her, and skimmed it ten lines at a glance.

She raised a hand to summon a server.

"Add an order of beef cubes, and bring some plain water. Everything else stays the same."

"Certainly, ma'am. Just a moment."

Yun Tang looked at her. "You're drinking plain water?"

"Mm-hmm. I'm driving."

Yun Tang raised her eyebrows as realization dawned.

"That was silly of me."

After lunch, Yun Tang and Xun Yuan headed straight to the airport to pick up her friend. It was an hour's drive from here.

"Want to come along?" Xun Yuan asked.

Yun Tang thought that sounded fine. "If your friend doesn't mind."

"I don't think she will."

"Then let's go."

They arrived at the airport at just the right time, two forty-five.

Xun Yuan parked and went to the secure passage to pick up her friend.

As Yun Tang followed Xun Yuan to the secure passage, she felt that whoever they were picking up was no ordinary person. What ordinary person used a secure passage?

When she saw her, sure enough.

The first thing she saw was a pair of long, straight legs, their proportions so perfect they defied heaven. Looking up, she saw a great figure, a large mask covering the woman's face, and sunglasses perched on her nose.

She headed straight for Xun Yuan and barreled into her arms with a thump.

"I missed you to death."

Xun Yuan hugged her and said with a smile, "Well, here we are."

"If you have time off, stay a few extra days and enjoy yourself."

The woman said from Xun Yuan's embrace, "This lady escaped his demonic clutches."

Xun Yuan smiled helplessly. Suisui's agent was an extremely strict older man.

"Let's head back first, before someone recognizes you."

The long-legged beauty frowned. "So annoying. Let's go."

Xun Yuan glanced at Yun Tang, and the three left the airport through the secure passage. Only once they were in the car did the woman remove her mask.

"This is my good friend from abroad, Xu Sui."

"This is Yun Tang. We met in Harbor City."

Xun Yuan introduced them. Yun Tang blinked. She had recognized the woman the moment she took off her mask, and Xun Yuan's words made her even more certain.

The international supermodel, Xu Sui.

"Hi, I'm Xu Sui. Since you're Xunxun's friend, just call me Suisui like she does."

Xu Sui held out her hand, her red lips curving into a smile. She had a rather exotic look, and her smile was captivating.

Yun Tang smiled back. "Hi, I'm Yun Tang. It's a pleasure to meet you. I've seen one of your shows. You were amazing."

Yun Tang did not hold back her admiration for Xu Sui in the slightest.

Xun Yuan drove along the outer ring expressway, crossing a bridge over the sea along the way. The scenery was magnificent. She opened the sunroof and turned on some music. Wind roared in, tousling their hair, carrying the flavor of freedom and spontaneity.

"This life is just fantastic. Who wants to work themselves to death day after day, Xunxun?"

Xu Sui spoke excitedly, her voice brimming with delight.

Xun Yuan teased her. "Would you be willing to change careers?"

"Don't even mention it, Xunxun. When a hobby becomes work, it's heartbreaking."

"And when you encounter a workaholic demon on the job, that's despair."

Xu Sui spoke with feigned sorrow, even making a show of wiping the corners of her eyes.

Xun Yuan and Yun Tang nearly died laughing.

Yun Tang had never imagined that the aloof, elegant international supermodel everyone saw would be like this in private.

After leaving the expressway, Xun Yuan asked, "What's your plan? Food first, or back to my place to rest?"

"Rest," Xu Sui said.

"Flying is exhausting."

Xun Yuan nodded, then asked Yun Tang, "All right. What about you, Tangtang?"

Yun Tang waved her phone. "Just drop me off at an intersection. I'll call someone to pick me up."

"Okay."

After dropping Yun Tang off, Xun Yuan drove back to Repulse Bay and said casually as soon as they walked in,

"I've had the spare bedroom prepared for you. The pillowcases and bedding are all new, the brand you usually use. There's fruit and drinks in the fridge. Help yourself."

"My darling Xunxun is still the most thoughtful."

Xu Sui hugged Xun Yuan excitedly, stopping just short of offering herself to her.

"Go get some rest."

Xun Yuan waved a hand, shooing her away.

Xu Sui made a hand gesture and obediently went to the bedroom to sleep.

After sitting down, Xun Yuan felt a little bored. She was willing to delegate authority, so much of the business abroad did not require her to follow up in real time. Restoring cultural relics was also a hobby; she took jobs only sporadically, depending on her mood, and had none at the moment.

Tsk.

Being busy had become a habit. Now that she had suddenly stopped and the pace of life had slowed, she was a little bored, even though she considered herself quite good at enjoying life.

How about opening another shop?

Or expanding the company's business into Harbor City?

Xun Yuan considered the feasibility of those two ideas.

But before she could work it out, she fell asleep. When she opened her eyes again, it was pitch-black outside.

She sat up on the sofa. The next second, a switch clicked.

"Awake?" It was Xu Sui.

Xun Yuan raised a hand to shield her eyes. Only after they adjusted did she look at Xu Sui and say,

"Mm. What time is it?"

Xu Sui walked over to her. "Eight in the evening. How did you sleep even longer than I did?"

Xun Yuan did not answer, only saying, "At this hour, let's go eat."

"Sure."

Xu Sui nodded, then remembered something.

"But are any malls still open? I didn't bring anything."

Xun Yuan pressed her brow. "No need to buy anything. There are clothes in the wardrobe."

"Xunxun, you really know me so well. What a shame I wasn't born a man, or else..."

"First, think about how you're going to avoid being recognized."

Xun Yuan helplessly interrupted Xu Sui's endless chatter, now thoroughly awake from all the noise.

Xu Sui's eyes suddenly lit up as she looked at Xun Yuan, curious and surprised.

"Got yourself a man?"

"Hmm?"

Xu Sui pointed at her. "Your neck. The marks are showing."

Judging by the color, they were recent, very fresh.

After sleeping, Xun Yuan's qipao had loosened a little. A sliver of her slender, snow-white neck showed at the collar, dotted with plum blossoms, giving it a suggestive, forbidden air.

"Oh, yes, I did."

Xun Yuan stood and straightened her qipao, covering the marks. She had no intention of saying more. She did not want everyone knowing about those things from the past. As for the two of them, she would leave it to fate, and they would go as far as things would go.